Broomcorn harvester



June 3, 1952 F. H. THOMPSON BRooMcoRN HARVESTER 8 Sheets-Sheetl l Filed Jan. 16, 1948 Frank H. Thompson INVENToR.

BY @Man-M www MI June 3, 1952 F, H. THOMPSON BROOMCORN HARVESTER 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1948 Frank H. Thompson v INVENTOR.

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June 3, 1952 r. H. THOMPSON 2,599,143

BROOMCORN HARVESTER Filed Jan. 1e, 1948 8 sheets-sheet 3 Frank H. Thompson JNVENToR.

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Attorneys June 3, 1952 F. H. THOMPSON BROOMCORN HARVESTER 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 16, 1948 Fig 5 58 Frank Thompson INVENToR.

June 3, 1952 F. H. THOMPSON BROOMCORN HARVESTER Filed Jan. 1e, 194s 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Frank H. Thompson JNVENToR.

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F. H. THOMPSON BROOMCORN HARVESTER 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 lll/ll [lill/I3 lll/lll Frank H. Thompson INVENroR.

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June 3, 1952 F. H. THoMPscN BROOMCORN HARVESTER Filed Jan. 16, 1948 l' F g 8 /54 /58 4g /42 ,32

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8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Frank Thompson INVENTOR.

BY @um Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BROOMCORN HARVESTER Frank H. Thompson, Rolla, Kans.

Application January 16, 1948, Serial No. 2,747

12 claims. 1

This invention relates to the broomcorn harvester and a method of handling broomcorn tops. It has for its primary object to sever the tops from standing stalks, to strip the seeds and the boots from the tops and deliver the cleaned tops in a substantially horizontal position to a suitable receiver.

Another object is to equip a conventional farm tractor having a power take-off with broomcorn harvesting units adapted to gather the tops of separate parallel rows of standing broomcorn, sever the gathered tops from the stalks of the broomcorn and deliver the tops stripped of their seeds and boots to a suitable receptacle.

A further object is to facilitate the harvesting of the broomcorn tops from stalks of different heights.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features means for gathering and cutting the tops from standing stalks, means for elevating thetops and stripping the seeds therefrom while they remain in an upright position, means for moving said tops while in such upright vposition in a rectilinear path, means for severing the bottoms from said tops while they are being so moved and means for stripping the boots from said tops while they are being moved in the rectilinear path.

Other features include means to tilt the tops after the removal of the seeds and boots therefrom and deliver them in a substantially horizontal position to a suitable receptacle.

Still other features include means for raising or lowering the gathering and cutting means to facilitate the cutting of the broomcorn stalks at the proper height to enable the best use of the tops to be made.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a conventional farm tractor having a power take-off, showing the same equipped with a pair of broomcorn harvesters embodying the features of this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, the tractor being shown in phantom;

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation of the tractor illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 of Figure 1 showing one of the harvesters in detail;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrating the gear case removed;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional Figure 7 is a transverse sectional to Figure 6 taken substantially along l-l of Figure 1;

Figure 8` is an enlarged fragmentary sectional .view taken substantially along the lineV 8-8 of Figure 2; Y v

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Figure 2;

Figure l0 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line Ill-I0 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line Il--ll of Figure 1; n Y

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of one of the side rails of theharvester;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary plan View of the forward end of the gathering means;

Figure 14 is a side view of the device illustrated in Figure 13, this view being taken upon a somewhat smaller scale than Figure 13;v

Figure 15 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line |5-l5 of Figure 2; Y i

.Figure 16 is an enlarged perspective view of the rear frame member of a harvester constructed in accordance with this invention; A

Figure 17 is an enlarged perspective view of the bracket employed to support the rear ends of the elevating rolls; y Y Y 1 Figure 18 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken substantially along the line I8`|8 of Figure 2;

Figure 19 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through one of the telescopic shafts and the gearing associated therewith, and y Figure 20 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the front end of the tractor on which the harvesters are mounted.

Referring to the drawings in detail a tractor designated generally I0 is equipped with a conventional power plant l2, traction wheels I4 and steering wheels I6. Coupled to the power plant in a conventional manner is a power take-,off shaft I8 which extends rearwardly fromv the rear end of the tractor between the traction wheels i4, and pivotally supported as at 20 on opposite sides of the frame of the tractor l0 adjacent its forward end are hydraulic cylinders 22 equipped with pistons and piston rods 24 all in a conventional manner. These cylinders are coupled through flexible tubes 26 to conventional hydrau.- lic control valves 28 through the medium of which hydraulic pressure is selectively admitted to the cylinders 22 for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter explained.

Pivotally supported as at 36 on the rear fenders 32 which partially encompass the traction wheels |4 are the harvesters designated generally 34.

Each harvester 34 comprises a main supporting frame 36 formed of spaced parallel side bars 38,

the rear ends of Vwhich are welded or otherwise rigidly secured toa cross plate 40 (Fig. 16) which extendsdownwardly below theV level of the side bars 38 and is provided at its lower edge on opposite sides with rearwardly extending arms 42, the rear ends of which terminate in upwardly extending brackets 44 carrying at their upper ends substantially triangular shaped heads 46 which are pierced with transversely extending openings 48 and 50 for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter explained. Y Supported on the side bars 38 adjacent their forward ends are forwardly projecting spaced parallel arms 52 which project in substantially parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the tractor H) to a point in advance of the for- Ward end thereof, and supported on the upper edges of the arms 32, and coextensive therewith 'are guide rails 54. These guide rails 54 comprise an yI-section having a vertical web 56 (Fig. 12), y

opposite ends of which are cut away as at 58 to Yform spaced parallel longitudinally extending arms 6|) which are pierced with aligning openings 62 through which extend the axle shafts 64 of sprocketsli over which gathering chains 68 operate as will be readily understood upon reference to Figure 1. The sprockets 66 at the forward ends of the guide bars 54 are idler sprockets, while the sprockets at the rear ends of the guide bars are keyed or otherwise xed to their shafts 64 (Fig. 5) which project downwardly below the lower edges of the side bars 38 and are equipped with meshing spur gears 'Hi by which the sprockets 66 and the chains 63 are driven. A suitable bevelled drive pinion 12 is coupled to one of the sprockets 1U and has driving connection with the powerV take-off shaft |6 as will be more fully hereinafter explained.

Depending from the undersidecf the arms 52 adjacent their forward ends are supporting brackets 'i4 (Fig. 2) on the lower ends of which are supported spaced blades 'I6 (Fig. 8) the cutting edges 18 of which are in opposed relation and curve outwardly to form guides between which the stalks of the standing broorncorn are Vdirected as the tops thereof enter between the lchains 68. A sickle blade 8E! is mounted to slide transversely across the upper sides of the blades 16, and pivotally supported as at.82 to a depending bracket 84 for movement in a horizontal arc is a bell crank B6, one end of which is coupled to the sickle bar 8U while the opposite end is connected to one end of a link 88 which extends rearwardly alongside of its-respective harvester 34 and has its rear end pivotally coupled to one arm of a rocking lever 9U (Fig. 9). This arm 9D is mounted to rockin a horizontal arc on a bracket 92 which depends from the underside of the outermost arm 52 of the frame 36, and fixed on suitable brackets 94 (Fig. 1G) which depend from 'arm v9,8 is rocked about its pivot in a horizontal arc, the sickle blade |00 will be moved transversely of the blades 96. Obviously rocking movement of the arm 96 will also cause the sickle blade 8i) to slide transversely of the blade 'i8 through the medium of the link 88, and hence both sickle blades 83 and |63 will be driven in unison. A suitable connecting rod |04 is pivoted as at |36 to one end of the rock arm 96, and the opposite end of the connecting rod |34 is Ycoupled to the drive mechanism to be more fully hereinafter described, in such a manner as to cause the arm to rock when the drive mechanism is set in motion.

Mounted in suitable brackets I (Fig. 2) which project upwardly from the guide bars 54 adjacent their forward ends, are the forward ends of upwardly and rearwardly inclined elevating rolls lill. The rear ends of these rolls are journalled in suitable bearings I2 carried at the upper ends of an upwardly and forwardly inclined frame designated generally ||4. As illustrated in the drawings the elevating rolls lie along spaced parallel axes which lie substantially in spaced parallel vertical planeswhich intersect the axes of the shafts 64, and these rolls Il) are provided with radial fingers ||6 which as illustrated in Figure 13 cooperate in stripping the seeds from the cut top of a stalk of broomcorn while the rolls I0 elevate it, as-it moves rearwardly of the machine between the chains 68. The upper rear ends of the axle shafts upon which the rolls H6 are mounted have secured thereto meshing spur gears ||8 by means of which the rolls Hi] are driven in unison. A suitable drive pulley |26 has driving connection with one of the spur gears H3 and is adapted to be driven through the medium of an endless belt |22 which has driving connection with a drive pulley |24 driven by the power take-off shaft ||8 as will be more fully hereinafter explained.

Extending transversely across the arms 52 near the brackets S4 is a U-shaped cross member |26 (Fig. 2) to whichr is pivoted as at |21 the upper end of the piston rod 24 on its respective side of the tractori on which the particular harvester 34 is mounted. The cylinders 22, the pistons therein and the piston rods 24, together with the brackets |26 serve as supports for the forward ends of the respective harvesters andV by manipulating a valve 28 the height of the for- Ward end of the harvester on its respective side of the tractor may be varied to suit different conditions.

Mounted for rotation about vertically extending axes substantially midway between the forward and rear ends of the rollers ||6 are `spaced parallel idler pulleys |28, the peripheries of which run in closely spaced relation on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of each frame 36. Mounted adjacent the rear ends of the guide rails 56 for rotation about spaced parallel vertical axes are spindles |36 about which closely spaced idler pulleys |32 rotate. Like the pulleys |28 the peripheries of the pulleys |32 are closely spaced and located symmetrically upon opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of their respective frames 3 6 and trained over the pulleys |28 and |32 on each harvester unit 34 is an' endless belt |34, the major portions of the runs of which lie vertically with the adjacent runs of the belt lying substantially against one another to form travelling gripping surfaces between which the cut tops of the broomcorn are moved toward the rear vend of the tractor. Mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis adjacent the .rear end of each frame in the aligning openings 48 (Fig. 16) is a drive shaft |36 supporting intermediate its ends a drive pulley |38 around which the innermost runs of the respective belt 34 are trained. A similar drive shaft |40 is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis in the openings 50 (Fig. 16) and supported intermediate the ends of the drive shaft |40 is a drive pulley |42 over which the outer runs of the belt |34 are trained. Keyed or otherwise fixed to one end of each drive shaft |36 and |40 is a spur gear |44, and these gears have meshing engagement so that the drive shafts |36 and |40 will rotate in unison in opposite directions. By thus twisting the inner runs of each belt |34 toward the horizontal at the rear end of the harvester and separating these runs by passing them around the respective drive roller |38, as illustrated in Figure 2, it is evident that the broomcorn tops upon leaving the vertical runs of the belts |34 will be given a tilt toward the horizontal and released from the gripping action of the adjacent runs of the belts.

Fixed adjacent the end of the drive shaft |36 remote from that carrying the spur gear |44 is a bevelled drive pinion |46 which is driven from the power take-off shaft |8 in `a manner to be more fully hereinafter described.

Mounted for rotation in suitable brackets |48 to one side of each frame I6, and extending through an opening |50 in the end cross member 40 of each frame 36 is a longitudinally extending drive shaft |52 to the rear end of which is connected `a bevelled drive pinion |54. This drive pinion has meshing engagement with a bevel drive gear |56 mounted on a vertically extending shaft |58 which is journalled in a suitable bearing bracket |60 carried by the cross member 49 at the rear end of the frame 36. A bevel drive pinion |62 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft |58 and meshes with the bevel drive gear |46 so that when the shaft |58 is rotated, the belt |34 will be driven in unison with the drive shaft |52. The lower end of the vertical drive shaft |58 has fixed thereto a bevel drive pinion |64 which has meshing engagement with a bevel drive pinion |66 mounted on the end of a drive shaft |60 which extends horizontally `and to the rear of the bracket arms 42 previously referred to. The drive pulley |24 (Fig. 18) is fixed to the forward end of the shaft |52 and the hub |10 of the drive pinion carries an eccentric pin |12 to which the end of the connecting rod |04 remote from the rock arm 90 is coupled so that as the drive pulley |24 is rotated, the sickle bars 80 and |00 will be moved in unison across their respective blades 96 and 98. Coupled to the shaft |52 slightly to the rear of the drive pulley |24 is a drive pulley |16, and keyed or otherwise fixed to the shaft |52 for rotation therewith adjacent the rear ends of the guide bars 54 is a drive gear |18 (Fig. 4) which has driving connection through a gear train designated generally |80 with a drive shaft |82 which is mounted on the frame to rotate about an axis in spaced parallel relation to the shaft |52. This drive shaft |82 is equipped adjacent one end with a bevel drive pinion |84 (Fig. 2) which has meshing engagement with the bevel drive gear 12 (Fig. 5) so that when the shaft 52 is rotated, the drive shafts 64 of the sprockets 66 will be rotated to drive the chains 68 in unison.

'Ihe shaft |68 is mounted in a suitable bracket |86 (Fig. 2). Carried by one of the arms 42 of the plate 40 is the shaft |68 to which is coupled for rotation therewith a bevel pinion |88. This pinion has meshing engagement with a bevel pinion |90 (Fig. 19) mounted on the upper end of a telescopic drive shaft |92, which is journalled in the bracket |86. The lower end of this telescopic shaft |92 is journalled in a. suitable bracket |94 carried by the rear end of the tractor I 0 adjacent one side thereof. A transverse shaft |96 extends across the rear end of the tractor and is journalled adjacent each end in a bracket |94. This main drive shaft |96 carries intermediate its ends a bevel pinion |98 which has meshing engagement with a bevel pinion 200 carried at the rear end of the power take-off shaft I8 previously described. Opposite ends of the main drive shaft |96 have connected thereto for rotation therewith bevel drive pinions 202 which have meshing engagement with bevel drive pinions 204 carried by the lower ends of the telescopic shafts |92 so that when the shaft |96 is rotated, the shafts |92 will likewise be driven.

Mounted in each frame to the rear of the sickle bar |00 (Fig. 2) and to one side of the longitudinal axis of its respective frame but in parallel relation therewith is a longitudinally extending cylinder 206 carrying spiral rows of radial fingers 208 which are adapted to engage the bottom ends of the broomcorn heads as they move rearwardly between the adjacent runs of the belts |34 to strip the boots therefrom. A suitable drive pulley 2|0 is coupled to the cylinder 206 for rotation therewith and has driving connection with the drive pulley |16 through the medium of an endless drive belt 2 2.

In use the two harvester units such as have just been described are mounted on a tractor on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis thereof and illustrated in the drawings so that they may rock about the axis of the pivots 30 under the influence of hydraulic fluid admitted to the cylinders 22 through the valves 28 in order that the forward ends of the harvesters may be adjusted to the height at which the broomcorn is to be cut. Advancing along between two rows of standing broomcorn, the tractor moves the harvesters in substantial alignment with the rows of broomcorn so that the standing stalks will be gathered by the fingers or spurs on the chains 68 and directed against the knives 16 so that the heads of the broomcorn will be severed by the sickle from the stalks. The heads passing rearwardly between the chains 68 will encounter the fingers ||6 of the elevating drums ||0 which will strip the seeds from the heads and cause the heads to be bodily lifted into a position to be gripped by the adjacent runs of the belts |34. Moving rearwardly of the machine between the adjacent runs of the belts |34 the lower ends of the cut heads will encounter the knives 96 and sickle |00 which cut the bottoms from the heads. Moving further rearwardly between the adjacent runs of the belts |34 the broomcorn tops encounter the radial fingers 208 on the drums 206 so that the boots,V leaves, and like undesirable matter will be stripped from the lower ends of the broomcorn heads. Owing to the fact that the adjacent runs of the belts |34 extend vertically for the major portion thereof, it will be obvious that the broomcorn heads will be advanced toward the rear of the tractor in a standing row until they pass beyond the rear idler pulleys |32. As the broomcorn heads pass to the rear of the rear idler pulleys |32, the adjacent runs of the belt are tilted toward the horizontal so as to tip the broomcorn heads outwardly away from the tractor for reception in any suitable trailing vehicle or other receptacle carried by the tractor. Owing `to the fact that the adjacent runs o'f thebelt i3d pass `around the drive pulley [38 in ra horizontal position, it will be evident that the space between adjacent runs of the belt increases as the rear end of the. harvester is approached and consequently the gripping .eitect :of the belt on the cut broomcorn heads is 'released automatically. yObviously'by regulating lthe speed 'at `which the 'tractor' moves between the :rows of Standing broomcorn to "the speed at which l.the cutting and tipping of the heads takes placama'ximum efdciency of the harvestermay be lattained. Likewise by .adjusting the height of the forward-end of each harvesterv to suit the general height 'of the particular row of broomcorn being harvested it is obvious that the projection of the machine maybe maintained in spite of widely varying differences in 'the .heights of the rows of the standing crop. Y

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described :the preferred embodiment of .this Vinvention .it is :to .be understood that minor changes in the :details .of construction, Acombination and arrangement of parts may ble resorted to "without vdeparting from the spirit and scope of the inventionas claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed vas new is:

il. A :broomcorn harvester which includes a pair of elongated spaced .parallel side bars mounted on va 'farm :tractor .to rock in unison about a transverse horizontal axis near the `rear :end of and the chains in unison as the tractor advances along 4a standing crop of'broomcorn, means carried bythe tractor Vand connected to the bars to rock the 'bars about the horizontal axis and raise or lower the sickle, a rotary elevatingAV cylinder mounted on each "bar immediately behind the sick-le, radial fingersoneach cylinder cooperating to elevate the brush out -by the sickle and means driven by the power' take-off ofthe tractor for rotati-ng -said cylinders andelevating the brush.

2. A Ybroomcorn `harvester which includes a paid of spaced parallel side bars mounted on a fiar-m tractor to rock in unison about Va horizontal axis near the rearendof the tractor, said bars vextending longitudinally of the tractor with their forward ends -projecting beyond the forward end for -the tractor, an endless conveyer chain mounted lon each bar for vmovement in a Vhorizontal Vclosed path, horizontally `projecting `fingers on the .chains which cooperate in advancing -cut broomcorn toward the rear of the harvester, a sickle carried 'by the bars below and adjacent .their .forward ends, Vmeans coupled to .the power .take-:oir of the tractor to drive'the sickle and the chains as the tractor .advances along a standing crop of broomcornmeans carried by the tractor and connectedto the bars to rock the bars about the horizontal axis and raise or lower the sickle, a :rotary elevating :cylinder mounted on each bar to the rear of the sickle, radial fingers on each cylinder cooperating to -elevate the brush .cut by y the :sickle and means .driven by the power takepff of the @tractor 'and `com iected to said cylinders .for rotating said cylinders and elevating the brush, and a second sickle carried by the .bars adjacent the rear ends of the elevating cylinders and means connected to the first mentioned sickle and to the last mentioned vto drive said last mentioned sickle and .cut the bottom ends oi of the elevated brush.

3. A broomcorn vharvester which includes ya pair or spaced Vparallel side bars .mounted `on a farm 'tractor vto rock in unison about a ,horizonal axis ,near vthe rear end of the tractor, said bars extending longitudinally of the tractor `with their forward ends projecting beyond the `forward end of the tractor, an endless vconveyor chain mounted on each bar for movement in a .horizontal closed path, horizontally projecting ngersfon the chains which cooperate in advancing cut broomcorn toward the rear .of the harvester, fa sickle carried by the bars below and adjacent their .forward ends, means coupled to the power .take-ofi of the tractor rand tothe sickle andthe chains to drive said sickle and chains as .the tractor advances along a standing crop of broomcorn, means carried by the tractor and connected to the bars to rock the bars about the horizontal axis and raise or lower the sickle, .a rotary elevating cylinder mounted on each ,bar to the A.rear of the sickle, radial fingers on each cylinder -cooperating to elevate the brush cut by ,the sickle and means driven by the power take-off of the tractor for rotating said cylinders and elevating the brush, and means operating in a closed lpath above the bars to grip the cut brush and deliver it to the rear end of the tractor.

4. A broomcorn harvester which includes a pair of spaced parallel side bars mounted 'on .a farm tractor to rock in unison .about a horizontal axis near the read end ofthe tractor, said bars extending longitudinally of the tractor with their forward ends projecting beyond the forward end of the tractor, an endless conveyor chain mounted on each bar for movement in a horizontal closed path, horizontally Iprojecting 'ngers Y on the chains which cooperate in advancing Ycut broomcorn toward the rear .of the harvester, .a

sickle carried 'by the bars below and .adjacent their forward ends, means coupled tothe .power take-off of the tractor and to the sickle andthe chains to drive the sickle and the chains as the tractor advances along a standing crop of broomcorn, means carried by the tractor and-connected to the bars to rock the bars about the horizontal axis to raise or lower the sickle, a rotary elevating cylinder mounted Aon each bar to the rear of the sickle, radial lingers on each cylinder cooperating to elevate the brush cut by the sickle and means driven by the power take-oir of the tractor and connected 'to thecylinders for rotating said cylinders and elevating the brush, a pair of endless belts extending from between the cylinder and chains and moving rearward -in adjacent planes for gripping the cut brush and delivering it to the rear end of the tractor and means for moving said belts in unison.

5. A broomcorn harvester which includes a pair of spaced parallel side ybars mounted -on a farm tractor to rock in unison about a 'horizontal axis near the rear end of the tractor, lsaid bars extending longitudinallyof the tractor with their forward ends projecting beyond the forward end of the tractor, an endless conveyor chain mounted on each bar for movement ina horizontal path, horizontally projecting lingers on the chains which cooperateinadvancing Ycut broomcorn .toward the irear :of the harvester, fa

sickle vcarried by the bars below and adjacent their forward ends, means coupled to the power take-oil of the tractor and to the sickle and the chains to drive the sickle and the chains as the tractor advances along a standing crop of broomcorn, means carried by the tractor and connected to the bars to rock the bars about the horizontal axis and raise or lower the sickle, a rotary elevating cylinder mounted on each bar to the rear of the sickle, radial lingers on each cylinder cooperating to elevate the brush cut by the sickle, means driven by the power take-off of the tractor and to the cylinders for rotating said cylinders and elevating the brush, means operating in closed horizontal paths above the chains and extending from a point about midway between theforward and rear ends of the cylinders to a point beyond the rear ends ofthe side bars to grip the brush and deliver it to the rear end of the tractor.

6.7A broomcorn harvester which includes a pair of spaced parallel side bars mounted on a farm tractor to rock in unison about a horizontal axis near the rear end of the tractor, said bars extending longitudinally of the tractor with their forward ends projecting beyond the forward end oi. the tractor, an endless conveyor chain mounted on each bar for movement in a horizontal closed path, horizontally projecting fingers on the chains which cooperate in ad" vancing cut broomcorn toward the rear of the harvester, a sickle carried by the bars below and adjacent their forward ends, means coupled to the power take-off of the tractor and to the -sickle and chains to drive the sickle and the chains as the tractor advances along a standing crop of broomcorn and means carried by the tractor and connected to the bars'to rock the bars about the horizontal axis and raise or lower the sickle, a rotary elevating cylinder mounted on each bar to the rear of the sickle, radial fingers on each cylinder cooperating to elevate the brush cut by the sickle, means driven by the power y take-oir of the tractor and connected to the cylinders for rotating said cylinders and elevating the brush, a pair of endless belts extending from between the cylinders and chains and moving rearward in adjacent planes toward the rear end of the tractor in unison with the conveyor chains to grip the cut brush and deliver it to the rear of the tractor.

7. A broomcorn harvester which includes a pair of spaced parallel side bars mounted on a farm tractor to rockin unison about a horizontal axis near the rear end of the tractor, said bars extending longitudinally of the tractor with their forward ends projecting beyond the forward end of the tractor, an endless conveyor chain mounted on each bar for movement in a horizontal closed path, horizontally projecting fingers on the chains which cooperate in advancing cut broomcorn toward the rear of the harvester, a sickle carried by the bars below and adjacent their forward ends, means coupled to the power take-off of the tractor and to the sickle and chains to drive the sickle and the chains as the tractor advances along a standing crop of broomcorn, means carried by the tractor and connected to the bars to rock the bars about the horizontal axis to raise or lower the sickle, a rotary elevating cylinder mounted on each bar to the rear of the sickle, radial ngers on each cylinder cooperating to elevate the brush cut by the sickle, means driven by the power take-off of the tractor and connected by the cylinders for rotating said cylinders and elevating the brush, a pair of endless belts moving in adjacent planes toward the rear end of the tractor in unison with the conveyor chains to grip the cut brush and deliver it to the rear end of the tractor, idler pulleys holding the major portions of the adjacent runs of the belts vertically in juxtaposition and drive pulleys tilting the remainder of the juxtaposed portions of the adjacent runs of the belts into a horizontal position. n

8. In a broomcorn harvester, a wheeled support, a pair of harvesting units pivoted about a transverse axis on opposite sides of the support. said units each including a pair of elongated, longitudinally extending, spaced arms for receiving a row vof standing broomcorn therebetween asthe support advances, -means carried by the arms for engaging broomcorn below the tops thereof and carrying the same rearwardly between the'arms, means carried by the arms for cutting the stalks of the broomcorn below the rst means while engaged thereby, means for progressively thrashing the broomcorn tops upwardly from the rst means and also for straightening the broomcorn tops while the same is engaged and being carried by the rst means, further means for engaging the tops between the two first mentioned means prior to the completion of the thrashing thereof and also for maintaining the tops in straighterred condition while carrying the same rearward with respect to the arms, means for rotating the tops to a horizontal position about a longitudinal axisswhile the same are being carried rearward by said further means to deposit the same in straightenedcondition in a horizontal attitude transverse to the directionfoi.` advance of the vehicle, means for selectively and independently raising and lowering the units about the transverse axis to vary the height at which the rows of broomcorn are cut. Y

9. In a broomcorn harvester, a wheeled support, a pail` of harvesting units pivoted aboutl a transverse axis on opposite sides of the support, said units each including a pair of elongated, longitudinally extending, spaced arms for receiving a row of standing broomcorn therebetween as the support advances, means carried by the arms for engaging broomcorn below the tops thereof and carrying the same rearwardly between the arms, means carried by the arms for cutting the stalks of the broomcorn below the iirst means while engaged thereby, means for progressively thrashing the broomcorn tops upwardly from the rst means and also for straightening the broomcorn tops while the same is engaged and being carried by the first means, further means for engaging the tops between the two rst mentioned means prior to the completion of the thrashing thereof and also for maintaining the tops in straightened condition while carrying the same rearward with respect to the arms, means for severing the tops below the point of engagement with the further means while so engaged, means for rotating the tops to --transve'rse axiston oppositeY sides ofthe Support,

Vtwo-first'mentioned means prior to the comple- 'tion ofthe thrashing'thereoi Vand, also for maintaining the tops inV straightening condition while carrying Vthe samewrearward with respecttor the arms`,lmean1s for Vrotating the tops to a horizontal position about a longitudinal axis while the same 'are bei-ng carried rearward by saidV further means to Vdepositthe same in straightened condition in -alho'rizontal attitude transverse to the direction of advance of the vehicle, means for stripping Vthe bootsfrom the tops while they are being carried byl saidfurther meansmeans `for selectively and independently raising and lowering the unitsabout the transverse axis to vary the height at `which the rows of broomcorn are cut.

' 1 1`.Iln'a' broomcorn harvester, a wheeled support,a pair `of elongated, longitudinally extending',spaced arms carriedby the support for receivinga row of standing broomcorn therebetween as the :support advances, means carried bythe arms for engaging broomcorn below the tops thereofand carrying the same rearwardly vbetween theV arms, means carried bythe arms for Vcuttingfthestalks of the broomoorn belowtheV rst means while engaged thereby, means for progressively'thrashing the tops upwardlyfrom the firstmeansand also for straightening'the broom-V Vcon-tops while the same is engaged and being carriedby the first means, further means AVfor ngagingthe tops between the two frstvmentioned means prior -to the completion of the 12 thrashing' andV also'for Ama'iniain'ing 4the tops' in straightened condition while carrying vthe same rearward with respect tothe arms, Ameans* for rotating the tops to a. horizontal position about a longitudinal axis while the same are being carried rearward by said furthermeans to deposit thel same in straightened condition in a horizontal attitude transverseA to the direction of advance of the vehicle.

12. lA'broomcorn 'harvester which includes means for gathering/and cutting the topsfrom a row of standingv stalks, means' mounted `above the cutting means for holding said topsy and'moying them away from/che cutting means in a rectilinear substantially horizontal path, means mounted below the top vmoving means for severing the bottoms from saidl upright tops, means mounted below the top moving means for stripping the boots from said upright tops after the bottoms have been severed therefrom and means adjacent the'V stripping vvmeans and engaging the top-moving meansto tiltsaid top moving means about the path as an ',axis'to deliver the tops in a substantially horizontal position.

` AFRANK I-I. THOMPSON.

REFERENCES f CITED The following references! are of record inthe nie of this patent: e

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